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AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.PARISH PRESIDENT CYNTHIA LEE SHANG SENDS HER REGRETS FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO BE WITH US TODAY, BUT ON HER BEHALF, I WANNA WELCOME YOU TO OUR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION EVENT, ACKNOWLEDGING JUNETEENTH AND CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
NOW I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE ELENE BERNARD, THE LEADER OF OUR DIVERSITY INCLUSION BOARD, TO SHARE MORE ABOUT TODAY'S PROGRAM.
ON BEHALF OF THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION BOARD, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE THAT IS HERE WITH US TODAY.
JUNETEENTH SHORT FOR JUNE 19TH, HONORS THE EFFECTIVE END OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES.
SINCE 2006, JUNE HAS ALSO BEEN DESIGNATED AS CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH BY PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION.
IT IS FITTING THAT OUR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION BOARD WOULD HOST AN EVENT TO HONOR BOTH JUNETEENTH AND CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
ALSO, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS NATIONAL PRIDE MONTH.
IN TODAY'S PROGRAM, WE WILL HAVE A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE IN HONOR OF CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, AND OUR GUEST SPEAKER WILL BE PROVIDING US MORE ON THE HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH.
THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION BOARD WAS ESTABLISHED BY JEFFERSON PARISH GOVERNMENT TO FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE IS A DELIBERATE FOCUS ON ACCEPTANCE, EDUCATION, AND INCLUSION OF DIVERSITY.
WITHIN JEFFERSON PARISH, WE WORK TO ENSURE THAT ALL PARISH EMPLOYEES AND THOSE SERVED BY THE PARISH ARE AFFORDED EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN ALL AREAS OF EMPLOYMENT AND EQUAL ACCESS TO ALL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
PRI PROVIDED BY JEFFERSON PARISH, THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION BOARD SERVES AS AN ADVISORY BODY ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION ISSUES, AND ACTS AS A COMMUNICATION LINK BETWEEN PARISH LEADERSHIP AND PARISH EMPLOYEES.
THE BOARD WILL CONTINUE TO CHAMPION THE BENEFITS OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND SUPPORT OF ACTIVITIES THAT HONOR THE UNIQUE ABILITIES AND ADDRESSES THE COMMON CONCERNS OF EMPLOYEES.
AGAIN, THANK YOU EVERYONE THAT IS HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE STANDING BEHIND US FOR EVERYTHING THAT EACH OF YOU DO, AND THANK YOU TO THE DEPARTMENTS THAT HELP MAKE THESE EVENTS HAPPEN.
AND AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE PRESENTED BY DANCE I H C, COMPETITIVE, COMPETITIVE DANCE.
I H C COMPETITIVE IS OWNED AND ARTISTICALLY DIRECTED BY MARESKA JACKSON HOWARD.
NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MINISTER DEBORAH EDWARDS TO PROVIDE US THE HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF JUNETEENTH MINISTER DEBORAH EDWARDS CURRENTLY SERVES AS A VOLUNTEER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF REJOICE INC.
IN 2003, MINISTER EDWARDS AND HER HUSBAND, PASTOR RICHMOND EDWARDS FOUNDED REJOICE INC.
THE 5 0 1 COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT OUTREACH OF NEW BIRTH CATHEDRAL OF GLORY MINISTRIES THAT HAS PROVIDED OVER 6,500 POINTS OF SERVICE IN JEFFERSON AND THE SURROUNDING PARISHES ITS MISSION TO EQUIP AND EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS
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AND FAMILIES FOR EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE.IN 2011, THE FIRST JUNETEENTH WAS HELD IN KENNER WITH FUN FOOD FELLOWSHIP, HISTORY LESSONS, AND MUCH MORE.
THE JUNETEENTH COMMUNITY EVENT CONTINUES ITS CELEBRATIONS WITH THIS YEAR BEING ITS SEVENTH ANNUAL EVENT, SPONSORED BY REYNA EDWARDS, E S Q, DAUGHTER OF MISS MINISTER EDWARDS AND CO-SPONSOR BY COUNCILMAN BYRON LEE.
PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME MINISTER DEBORAH WILLIAMS. OH, UH, SENATOR IT ON DEBORAH, DEBORAH EDWARDS.
IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE, LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING TILL EARTH AND HEAVEN RING.
RING WITH THE HARM KNEES OF LIBERTY.
LET OUR REJOINING RISE AS A LISTENING SKIES.
LET US MARCH ON UNTIL VICTORY IS ONE.
SING A SONG FULL OF THE FAITH AT THE DARK PASS HAS TAUGHT US SING A SONG FULL OF THE HOPE THAT THE PRESENT HAS BROUGHT US FACING THE RISE OF A NEW DAY BEGUN LET US MARCH ON TILL VICTORIA IS ONE.
THANKS TO THE DIVERSITY AND EQUITY COMMITTEE FOR THIS INVITATION.
I AM HERE FOR MY ANCESTORS WHO LIVED IN SLAVERY.
I AM HERE FOR MY COUNTRY THAT WAS BUILT BY THEIR HANDS.
I AM HERE FOR MY FAITH THAT THE SLAVE OWNERS AND EUROPEAN TRADES USED TO JUSTIFY SLAVERY, BUT IT HAS SERVED AS AN INSPIRATION FOR LIBERATION.
THE THREE VERSE BLACK NATIONAL ANTHEM.
THE FIRST VERSE THAT I JUST SANG WAS WRITTEN IN 1900 BY EDUCATOR, PRINCIPAL, AND SEGREGATED, UH, OF, OF THE SEGREGATED STANTON SCHOOL.
HE WAS A POET, DISTINGUISHED LAWYER AND DIPLOMAT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE N A A C P JAMES WELDON JOHNSON, AND SET TO MUSIC BY HIS BROTHER, JAY ROSEMAN JOHNSON COMPOSER, ACTOR, AND MUSICAL PRODIGY.
THEY WROTE THE SONG FOR A CELEBRATION OF PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH, 1900, IN WHICH 500 STUDENTS SANG LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING.
WHAT DOES THIS SONG HAVE TO DO WITH JUNETEENTH? IT CAPSIZES THE STRUGGLE BLACK PEOPLE LIVED.
IT EXPRESSES THE INVOCATION OF GOD FOR GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION.
IT VOICED A CRY OF LIBERATION AND AFFIRMATION FOR BLACK PEOPLE, AND, AND IT OFFERS THE PROMISE OF FREEDOM.
THE JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY DOES EXACTLY THE SAME THING.
CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING BOUGHT AND SOLD LIKE CATTLE BEING DECEIVED BY EUROPEAN TRADERS AND AND THREW MEN, WHICH THREW MEN AND WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE BOTTOM OF A SHIP SHACKLED TOGETHER FOR 80 DAYS WITH LITTLE OR NO ACTIVITY, NO BATHROOM FACILITIES, RATIONS FOR FOOD.
CAN YOU IMAGINE BLACK MEN PLOWING IN THE FIELD, BUT NOT, BUT WERE NOT ALLOWED TO OWN THEIR OWN LAND? CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING A BLACK WOMAN WHO COOKED IN THE KITCHEN, PREPARED THE FOOD, BUT WAS NOT ALLOWED TO SIT AT THE TABLE? CAN YOU IMAGINE BLACK CHILDREN CLEANING THE SCHOOLHOUSE BUT NOT ALLOWED TO READ OR WRITE? THIS IS WHAT MY ANCESTORS
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EXPERIENCED BY THE YEAR 1861, THERE WERE MORE THAN 4 MILLION ENSLAVED PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES.SOMETIMES THEY HAD TO PRETEND TO BE SICK, SOMETIMES THEY HAD TO STEAL FOOD TO EAT, BUT THERE WAS A BRIGHT HOPE THAT CAME UPON THEM WITH THE PRESIDENCY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN WHO WANTED SLAVERY TO STOP EVERYWHERE.
AND SO WITH THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION ISSUED JANUARY 1ST, 1983, THIS PROCLAMATION SPOKE WELL TO THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH IT SAID THAT ALL ENSLAVED PEOPLE WERE FREE.
THE CONFEDERATE SOUTH AND THE, AND THE NORTH WENT INTO BATTLE AND SO ENSUED THE CIVIL WAR.
BUT IT WAS ON A DAY IN, IT WAS ON JUNE 19TH IN 1865 WHEN, UH, ARMY GENERAL GORDON GRANGER LED MORE THAN 2000 SOLDIERS TO MAKE SURE ENSLAVED PEOPLE WERE FREED.
HIS OFFICIAL ORDER IS NOW IN THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES.
THE PEOPLE, AND IT READS, THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS ARE INFORMED THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCLAMATION FROM THE EXECUTIVE OF THE UNITED STATES, ALL SLAVES ARE FREE.
THIS INVOLVES AN ABSOLUTE EQUALITY OF PERSONAL RIGHTS AND RIGHTS OF PROPERTY BETWEEN FORMER MASTERS AND SLAVES.
EIGHT FREEDOMS GAINED BY BLACK AMERICANS AFTER JUNETEENTH INCLUDE THEY WERE ABLE TO WORK FOR WAGES.
THEY WERE ABLE TO OWN LAND, LEARN TO READ NAME THEMSELVES, MARRY LEGALLY, SERVE IN THE MILITARY, TRAVEL AND WORSHIP FREELY.
AND SO THE YEAR AFTER, UH, THE, THE, THE YEAR AFTER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION WAS OFFERED, IT WAS NOT THE YEAR AFTER TWO AND A HALF YEARS AFTER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION WAS ISSUED.
JUNETEENTH OR JUBILEE DAY WAS CELEBRATED IN THE, IN THE 1890S, PEOPLE STARTED USING THE NAME JUNETEENTH INSTEAD OF JUBILEE DAY, WHICH WA WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL NAME.
THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT THEY WERE FREE IN QUOTE, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT WITH THAT FREEDOM CAME A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF OPPOSITION.
HOW CAN YOU, HOW CAN WE CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH NOW THAT IT'S A NATIONAL HOLIDAY? IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL US, ALL OF US TO COME TOGETHER AND LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO SHARE OUR, OUR HERITAGE AND TO BE RECEIVED WITH OPEN ARMS. SO ONE THING YOU CAN DO, YOU CAN ATTEND OUR SEVENTH JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION, AN EVENING OF ENTERTAINMENT AND HISTORY THIS SATURDAY AT SUSAN PARK GYM AT 6:00 PM DOORS WILL OPEN AT 5:30 PM ADMISSION IS FREE.
HOWEVER THE FOOD WILL BE SOLD, SING A SONG FULL OF HOPE THAT THE PRESENT HAS BROUGHT US FACING THE RISING SUN OF A NEW DAY.
BEGUN LET US MARCH ON TILL VICTORY IS ONE.
THE GRANDMOTHER OF JUNETEENTH IS ONE.
SHE VISITED MANY, MANY CITIES TO FIGHT FOR HER CAUSE SHE WAS A RETIRED TEACHER AND A COUNSELOR, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, AND JUST AN ALL AROUND PERSON WHO LOVED HER PEOPLE AND WANTED THE COUNTRY TO UNDERSTAND WHO WE REALLY ARE.
SO SHE VISITED MANY CITIES FOR THE FIGHT FOR HER CAUSE IN, IN EACH CITY SHE VISITED.
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AT THIS TIME, SHE WAS WAS BETWEEN 89 AND 94 YEARS OLD.SHE WALKED TWO AND A HALF MILES REPRESENTING THE TWO AND A HALF YEARS THAT IT TOOK FOR THE WORD TO GET FROM, UM, FROM TO, UH, TO TEXAS, THAT THE SLAVES WERE EMANCIPATED.
IT TOOK TWO AND A HALF YEARS FOR THE WORD TO REACH TEXAS.
AND SO SHE, BEING A TEXAN, DECIDED TO TAKE UP THE CAUSE TO ENSURE THAT JUNETEENTH WOULD BECOME A FEDERAL HOLIDAY.
AND SO ON JUNE 17TH, 2021, SHE WATCHED, SHE WAS INVITED TO WASHINGTON DC AND SHE WATCHED AS US PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SIGNED A BILL NAMING JUNETEENTH OF FEDERAL HOLIDAY.
IN CONCLUSION, THE STRUGGLE IS REAL.
THE MOOD OF OUR COUNTRY IS ONE OF, IS STILL ONE OF OPPRESSION.
THE HALVES PUTTING THEIR FEET ON THE NECKS OF THE HAVE NOTS AND JUSTIFYING IT JUST AS IT WAS DONE 400 YEARS AGO.
NONE OF US ARE FREE UNTIL ALL ARE FREE.
THE MOOD OF THE COUNTRY IS ONE OF DIVISION.
REMEMBER, NONE OF US ARE FREE UNTIL ALL ARE FREE.
THE MOOD OF OF OUR COUNTRY, IN MANY RESPECTS, LACKS A LOVE FOR HUMANITY.
DON'T YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS POWER IN TEAM? TOGETHER EVERYONE ACCOMPLISHES MORE.
THERE ISN'T POWER IN INTENTIONALLY LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER AND LEARNING ABOUT EACH OTHER WITH PURPOSE.
TO GLEAN THE BEST FOR EACH OTHER.
THERE IS POWER IN SHARING RESOURCES.
WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT AND ALIKE, DIFFERENT SKILL SETS.
BUT IN A TEAM, WHAT SKILLS I LACK, YOU MAY HAVE THIS COUNTRY, AMERICA IS FOR ALL OF US.
NO MATTER YOUR RACE, YOUR COLOR, YOUR SEXUAL IDENTITY, ET CETERA.
UNTIL WE INTENTIONALLY RESPECT EACH OTHER, OPEN OUR EARS TO HEAR EACH OTHER, OPEN OUR HEARTS TO ACCEPT EACH OTHER'S GIFTS AND TALENTS.
OUR GIFTS AND TALENTS WILL BE LOST.
BELIEVE THAT WE ARE HERE TO MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
THAT'S WHY JUNETEENTH NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY IS IMPORTANT.
I COULD GET REAL SPIRITUAL RIGHT NOW AND TAKE YOU TO SECOND CHRONICLE SEVEN AND 14 THAT SAYS, IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY AND SEEK MY FAITH AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN THEY WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN.
AND I WILL AIN'T NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
HE SAID, I WILL HEAL THE LAND.
AS JEFFERSON PARISH EMPLOYEES AND AS THE COMMUNITY, YOU ARE CHOSEN TO CHANGE THE PARISH FOR THE GOOD OF ALL CITIZENS.
LET'S TAKE THAT CHOICE SERIOUSLY.
WITH INTENTIONALITY, THE RESIDENTS WILL SEE IT.
THE BLESSINGS WILL OVERTAKE YOU.
THE FRUIT OF YOUR LABOR WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT ALL GENERATION.
JUNETEENTH MEANS FREEDOM RISING.
LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING TILT.
RING WITH THE HARMONIES OF LIBERTY.
LET OUR REJOICING RISE HIGH AS THE LISTENING SKIES.
LET IT RESOUND LOUD AS THE ROLLING.
SEE, SING A SONG FULL OF THE FAITH THAT THE DARK PAST HAS TAUGHT US.
SING A SONG FULL OF THE HOPE THAT THE PRESENT HAS BROUGHT US FACING THE RISING SON OF A NEW DAY.
LET US MARCH ON TOGETHER TILL VICTORY IS ONE.
THANK YOU MINISTER EDWARDS FOR PROVIDING THAT HISTORY FOR US AND THOSE INSPIRATIONAL WORDS.
I WANNA ALSO THANK OUR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION BOARD FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THIS EVENT AS WELL AS ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT PLAY SUCH A BIG ROLE IN MAKING THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
WE, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK GENERAL SERVICES, PARKS AND RECREATION, CITIZENS AFFAIRS, AND OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE OF COURSE.
SO ON BEHALF OF PRESIDENT CYNTHIA LEE CHANG, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT CERTIFICATES OF MERIT TO DANCE I
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H C COMPETITIVE AND TO MINISTER EDWARDS.AND I'LL READ THE FIRST CERTIFICATE, BUT THE REST OF 'EM ARE THE SAME.
SO WE HAVE MARESCA, JACKSON, HOWARD.
IT SAYS, BE IT KNOWN, BE IT KNOWN THAT FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE, THE POWERS OF JEFFERSON HAS CONFERRED THIS CERTIFICATE OF MERIT UPON MARESCA JACKSON HOWARD FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE 2023 JEFFERSON POWERS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION BOARD, JUNETEENTH AND CARIBBEAN, AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH PRESENTATION AND PERFORMANCE.
SIGNED BY CYNTHIA LIANG, PARISH PRESIDENT.
AND I'M GONNA ASK TO GO AHEAD AND CALL UP OUR PERFORMERS.
AND MINISTER EDWARDS, SHE COMES.
SO AT THE END OF THIS EVENT, FOOD PROVIDED BY BOSWELL'S JAMAICAN GRILL IS GONNA BE SERVED BY OUR D N I BOARD.
AND NOW I'D LIKE TO INVITE DANCE I H C COMPETITIVE.
BACK UP TO GIVE, TO ROLL US OUT WITH A FINAL PERFORMANCE.